Background
World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and Canadian Leaders in International Consulting (CLIC) have been jointly awarded a grant from Global Affairs Canada to implement the Project “Bolstering Reconstruction in Iraq through Development, Growth and Employment” (BRIDGE).
The BRIDGE Project’s goal is to contribute to Iraq’s stabilization by improving the employment status of male and female youth, and women across various sectors in select governorates.
BRIDGE will meet its goals by helping beneficiaries integrate into the labour market as well as support the ongoing reform of Iraq’s vocational education and training sector.
Nature and Scope
BRIDGE main partners in Iraq are the Vocational Training Centers (VTCs) of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MOLSA) which provide semi-skilled training for unemployed, primarily youth. In its first year, BRIDGE is working with 5 Vocational Training Centers (VTCs) located in three governorates (Baghdad, Basrah and Anbar).
Overall economic growth sectors presenting the best employment opportunities for semi-skilled trades have already been identified. Construction is a key sector for which demand is strong throughout Iraq. Additional priority sectors are: Basrah (Oil and ICT); Baghdad (Service Sector and Industry) and Anbar (Technologies used in Agriculture).
BRIDGE seeks to retain a Consultant to do Rapid Skills Needs Assessments to identify growing sub-sectors as well as corresponding semi-skills employment for each of the priority sectors identified, in the three regions of intervention.
All sub-sector training will be available to both genders. While some sub-sectors may be principally attractive to young men, others will be gender-neutral, and some will principally target women. Special attention should be paid to identify potential sub-sector opportunities for women. All training will be developed as semi-skilled curricula, each of which will be of maximum 750 contact hours.
Key responsibilities and tasks
Working closely with MOLSA Training Directorate, the VTCs in the targeted governorates and the BRIDGE staff, the Consultant will:
1. Conduct a desk review of key documents provided by BRIDGE staff on the priority sectors identified, Iraq’s TVET sector reform documents and other key documents obtained during online research;
2. Identify an overall approach and methodology for the Rapid Market Skills Assessments that while limited in scope, will provide useful information on top key semi-skills in demand in the priority sectors (noting in some cases, the Rapid Skills Assessments may validate current demands by VTCs and trainees for specific market-driven training as well as identify new sub-sectors);
3. Employ gender-sensitive tools in data collection such as sector-specific questionnaires for employers, and guidelines for focus group discussions;
4. With consideration to existing VTC and MOLSA employer lists, guide BRIDGE staff through the identification of, and outreach to relevant employers within each sector.
5. Conduct individual interviews with key informants, including those identified by BRIDGE as experienced in facilitating the economic integration of women, and conduct focus group discussions for each priority sector identified (if relevant as per suggested methodology);
6. Cross-reference data both available and newly obtained and prepare a detailed written report with analysis and recommendations of key sub-sectors relevant to each priority sector identified.
Level of Effort
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World University Service of Canada (WUSC) |
